Profile milling machine



July 12, 1960 .1. H. ROHLFS 2,944,466

PROFILE MILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR F I G. I

JOHN H. ROHLFS July 12, 1960 .1. H. ROHLFS 2,944,466

PROFILE MILLING MACHINE Filed D90. 23, 1958 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN H. ROHLFS FIG. 6 I

zw w ATTORNEY y 12, 19 0 H. ROHLFS 2,944,466

PROFILE MILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 23; 1958 AW "5 2 9 l4 4 July 12, 1960 J. H. ROHLFS PROFILE MILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 23, 1958 w m m M n l I T u I a m 0 0 8 m A 2 ,0 4Q. I R 9 n .0 F .N f" H I 6 N m -l 4 w W M J n a v J 4 T w fll'l? 8 M H M m 7 m x M m w Z 9 m a... mu 9 m F 25944466 PROFILE MILLINGIMACI-IINE nitccl States tent John H. Rohlfs, Winsted,2Conn;, assignor to' The Machine Coinpany-g Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation ofllhio Fil'edDec. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 782,510 l2 Claims.- (Cl.-90--13) the development. otthis-machine it .wasnecessary. for a machinist toresort to the time consuming .andrglzltively inaccurate. procedure of first scribingthe endof a metal workpiece, sawing theworkpiecealong the scribeline and then grindingor filling. the -rough rounded'edges to finish the shaft'key or. the like. However, by employing the machine .disclosed in'm'y above identified patent it ispossible to veryaccurately and precisely machine. rounded faces on the ends o-f'metal workpieces in a fastand'efiicient manner without the requirement of the. machinist holding either the workpiece or the cutting tool. This patent is made of record'for those desiring a. more detailed description of such a milling machine and the patent coverage thereon. I v

Although a milling maeh-ine-constructed'in accordance ice pat nt d J ly 12, 1960 2-" path takcnby. the cutter in machining .a complex. endlfacet o'n a metalworkpiec'e. 'Thus,.'the cam means, being of a relatively largefsizeoan be easily and accurately made whereby the end'Z'facecuton-the metal workpiece will be very precise and accurate. or, conversely,,any small.=.errors.in the-shape ofthecamlmeans wil'l'n'ot be evidenced on the. milled-complex shaped end faceofa metalworkpiece. i

Another: objectof the. presentinventionis to provide a profile millingmach'ine'. for cutting complex shaped end faces on metal'workpieces whicli iswa-lso adapted to cut rounded andarcuate faces. on the end' faces of metal workpieces. Theprofil'e milling machine embodies means for renderingfihe cam means" for slidablyv moving the spindle hollsinginoperative' andmeans to. lock the spindle. ho s lgiil ofiset relationwith respect to the. center axis of thevi'ce whereby Whenthe support plate is rotated the milling operation. 4 t that the machinist is}. not required to hold either the with the teachings of the above identified patent is exceptionally well adapted for cutting-arcuate or rounded end faces on metal workpieces, it is often'necessary to provide a metal workpiece, suchas a bar or a rod, for

example, with an end face of some complex shape other than round. Consequently, the need exists {or a milling machine of the type disclosed in my prior patent which isadapted toaccurately mill the end faces. of'metal workpieces to complex shapes;

V In view of the above, it is the primary or ultimate object of the present invention to provide an improved profile milling machine'which is adapted to mill ahnost any. desired shape on the end face of a metal workpiece.

A- furtherobjectlof the invention'is to-provide'a profile milling 'machine'which is adapted to mill complex'shapes on the end: faces of metal workpieces with a very high degree of precision and accuracy. 'As'willbe hereinafter more fully apparent, the" milling cutter of the profile milling machine of the present inventionis journaled for rotation: about its own axis in ya spindle housing which is initurn slid ably mounted on asupport-plate for longitudinal movement. The support plate is rotatably mounted with respect to" the vice provided for holding the metal workpiece and: cam means' are employedto movethe spindle housing: longitudinally in accordance with apredetermined patternas the support plate is rotated whereby the millingcutter cuts the endtace of a metal workpiece heldrb'y the vice to thedesired complex shape. The resultant complex shape of. the niachined end of the workpiece is determined by thecam means and,- as will be hereinafter more fully explained,

the-milling'cutter travels in. a circular path.

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a profilemilling machine of the type above described which is characterized'hy, its extreme 'fl xibility and versatility. As mentioned above,'., the profile millihg, machine: is adapted to machine or. profile almost anyfshape includingthe special'case of around r. arcuate shape, .on the end faces of metal workpieces. Also,- the cam means is adapted to be readily removed and replaced -whereby the s p,.s machined on the end'faces of metal workpieces cani'be' changed very, quickly and O enem Y f urt e bi he e tibn 7$ t rq d n improved profile milling, machine tor milling. any dc.- sir'ed complex shape, on' the end face of'ameta-l work: Piec -which is al wmatic in ov a ene ati m 1 thev millingcutter and the support plate are. driven by adjustabl motor means. and positioning; means are im eluded whereby; all the operator is. required to. do. is place ametal workpiece in the vice, operate a valve to close the vice. and'then initiate control means to start In this respectitwilhlie noted workpiece or then-filling cutter andth at themachine is adapted'to handle various sizes ofv metal -WQ1'-kpi 6,C6S withoutcomplicated and timercon u i gl "Set-up? operations. el' m en efil m lli amas s t ie Pre en nvei tion is ideally. adapte dffor automatic gOntrol' in such' a mannerthat the same may be operatedfby, -relatively unskilled labor. This, ofcourse, is important in the highly sk-ili'ed'andihighly paid machinists can be freed-for other more important tasks while yet more. accurate complex shaped'end faces on metal workpieces arernachined in a much shorter time. I L

Another important aspect of Tthe. present invention. is the provision of an improved gauge for. use. with the profile millingmachinewhich is adaptedlto accurately position the end face of the. metal workpieceswit'h-rer 'spect to the'path voftravel of" the millingcutter. The

gauge is adjustable to accommodate various. sizesv of metal workpieces and is preferably ,employedin such a manner that anlya minimum of metal. is. cutrf'rom the end faces of the metal workpieces.

Other objects ,offlthe present invention areto. provide a profile milling machine-ideally suited for milling or I profiling complex-shapes on the-endfacesofmetalwork- "the cam means isofmuch larger size and length'than pieces-Which is characterized by simplicity. andlow cost of manufacture and assembly, ruggedness and rigidity whereby the same isadaptedto pwithstand continuous.

usage, andwhich has many inherent safetyfeatures.

The above, as well asother objects. and advantagesof the present-invention, will.- become more readily/apparent upon consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawingwherein there is disclosed a pre- -ferr'ed illustrated embodiment of" a profilemilling na chine constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a side view, partially in section, showing an improved profile milling machine for accurately and automatically milling almost any desired shape on the end faces of metal workpieces constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the profile milling machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side sectional view taken along the section line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 2 as seen from the section line IV--IV;

Figure 5 is a plan sectional view taken along the section line VV of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side sectional view as seen from the section line VI-VI of Figure 1 showing specifically the driving means for the support plate;

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view showing specifically the improved metal workpiece gauge embodied in the profile milling machine of the present invention;

FigureS is an end view of the gauge shown in Figure. 7; and

Figure 9 is a side sectional view of the gauge as seen from the section line IX-IX of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawing, and initially to Figures 1-5 thereof, there is shown a profile milling machine constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention which comprises a housing, designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The housing 10 includes a generallyrectangular and vertically extending lower housing section 11 and a generally cylindrical upper housing section 12. The lower housing section 11 has a rounded front end portion 13, a bottom wall 14 providing a floor base and a top wall 15 defining a supporting surface for the upper housing section 12. The top wall 15 of the lower housing section 11 has a large circular opening 16 therein adjacent the rounded front end portion 13 and this large circular opening is bounded by a circumferential flange portion 17 of the top wall 15. The upper housing section 12 is of smaller size than the lower housing section 11 and, as mentioned above, is generally cylindrical. The upper housing section 12 comprises a flat top wall 18 that defines a workpiece supporting table or bed, a cylindrical side wall 19 anda cricumferential flange 20 at the lower end of the side wall 19. The upper housing section is attached to the lower housing section by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced and vertically extending bolts 21 that extend through the circumferential flange 20 of the upper housing section, a stationary and circumferential upper bearing race 22, a stationary and circumferential lower bearing race 23 and the circumferential flange portion 17 of the top wall 15 of the lower housing section. In this manner of construction an extremely rigid housing of an overall neat appearance is provided.

The workpiece supporting table or bed 18 has a vice 24 mounted thereon which is adapted to firmly hold a metal workpiece, not particularly shown, during milling operations as will be hereinafter more fully described. The workpiece supporting table 18 has a central aperture 25 therein through which projects a vertically orientated milling cutter 26. The milling cutter 26 is supported and driven by means to be hereinafter more fully de- I scribed whereby the same is rotated about its own vertical axis while at the same time being moved in a complex circular path or orbit to mill the desired complex shape on the end face of a workpiece held by the vice 24. The supporting and driving means for the milling cutter 26 are contained within the housing 10 and suitable doors 27 are provided in both the upper and lower housing sections to allow ease of access to these means.

Considering first the supporting and driving means for the milling cutter 26, it will be noted in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing that the upper and lower stationary and circumferential bearing races, 22 and 23, respectively,

provide the outer race for a great number of circumferentially disposed ball bearings 29. The inner or movablerace for the ball bearings 29 is defined by the outer peripheral edge 39 of an annular support plate 31. The annular support plate has an integral depending cylindrical portion 32 to which is attached by means of bolts 33 a ring gear 34. The ring gear 34 is adapted to be driven through the drive shown in Figure 6 of the drawing by an adjustable variable speed electric motor 35. It should be apparent that the support plate 31, as well as all apparatus mounted thereon or movable therewith, is supported by the ball bearing 29 for relatively friction free rotative movement upon energization of the electric motor 35. i

As shown in Figures land 6 of the drawing, the electric motor 35 is attached to the underside of the top wall of the upper housing section 11 and is adapted to rotate,

by, means of an endless chain 36, a sprocket 37. The

sprocket 37 is mounted on one end of a shaft 38 that is journaled by a plurality of bearing assemblies 39 which are in turn mounted from the underside of the top wall 15 of the lower housing section in the manner shown. Keyed to the shaft 38 intermediate the bearing assemblies 39 is a worm gear 40 that meshes with the ring gear 34 carried by the support plate 31. Thus, the arrangement is such that upon proper energization of the electric motor 35 the worm gear 40 will be rotated to rotate the ring gear 34 to cause relatively friction free rotation of the support plate 31 in a horizontal plane.

The support plate has a central aperture 42 therein through which protrudes a vertically disposed relatively large diametered'spindle housing 43. The spindle housing 43 extends above and below the support plate 31 and is provided with a generally rectangular enlargement 41 intermediate the ends thereof whose side edges define a pair of laterally projecting slides 44 which are received within ways 45 defined by a pair of parallel spaced L-shaped gibs 46. The gibs are attached by bolts 47 to the support plate 31 on opposite sides of the aperture '42. It should be apparent that in this manner the spindle housing 43 is carried by and adapted to be rotated with the support plate 31 but is also adapted to be slidably moved with respect thereto. Means, to be hereinafter more fully explained, are employed for slid ably moving the spindle housing with respect to the support plate731 as the latter is rotated whereby the milling cutter travels in an exact predetermined pattern to mill the end face of a metal workpiece to a desired complex shape. Y

The spindle housing 43 is centrally bored throughout its length at 43 and journaled Within the central bore '48 by a pair of vertically separated thrust hearing as: semblies 49 is a cutter spindle 59. The top end of the cutter spindle 50 is countersunk to provide a chuck and received within this chuck is the milling cutter 26 that pro trudes through and above the central aperture 25 in the surface of the workpiece supporting table 18. The means for rotating or driving the spindle 50 comprises an adjustable variable speed electric motor 51 adjustably mounted on a shelf in the bottom portion of the lower housing section and which is connected to the cutter spindle by a belt drive 52 and a flexible shaft 53. The flexible shaft 53 is made up of a plurality of interconnected pin and socket linkages 54 and 55, the uppermost of which is connected to the cutter spindle 50. T he extended length of the flexible shaft 53 will vary as the cutter spindle moves in a circular path to allow the milling cutter to profilethe end face of a metal workpiece but the driving connection between the electric motor 51 and the milling cutter will be maintained at all times. The electric motor 51 is operative to'rotaterthe milling cutter about its own axis while the electric'motor 35 is operative to rotate the support plate 31 to move the milling cutter in a circular path for the purposes above set forth. The electric motors 35 and 51 are both ad;

isst whsrs a w tn s d ds spee o nsn ment of the milling cutter b est adapted foranydesiied endfface can be selected.

As mentioned" above, the'spindle housing A S is' slidably'mountejdion the supportplate: 31 and-tliesliding movement of the. spindle. housing with" respect" to the support plate as the support platejsrotated wiil deter; mi the p t o 'm e ent' akm b h s i l n 1 Asisv clearly shown" in Figures 4* and Softhe drawing", one e d of the pi d e: h u in has w rd y Pr jectingalink' 57' to which is" pivotally attachedone end of a cam roll mounting block 58." 'Theother end of t e c m q mo mi a k. s e i din s lesnaccd relation with respect to the spindle housingi tfby means of 'a. Headed cam follower adjusting, screw 59: Kotatably mountedintermediate the. ends of'the canrroll'mounting block 58'is a cam follower. roll'60 that engages the cam surface.61' of a. generally segmentalcam 62". The cam 62' is stationarily attached to the circumferential flange 20 of the upper housingsection 12 and'entends through an arc of slightly more than one lirn dredand eighty degrees. The shape of the segmental cam sur- 61' isselected to produce a sliding motion on the part oflthe spindle housing as the same is rotated with the support plate 31 to move the milling cutter in the desiredpath of travel.

For biasing the cam follower roll 60 into engagement p with the segmental 'carn surface 61 of thecam 62 there are provided .a, p air of. compression coil springs v 63 which are receivedv within-recesses 64- iuthe spindle housing and bear against spaced'blocks' 65' mounted on the upper surface of. thesupport plate 31. 'The compression coil springs 63" always keep the cam follower roll 60 in pressure contact with the cam surface of the segmental cam whereby. variations in the cam surface are faithfully reproduced by the milling cutter as the support plate. is rotated; 7

'As set forth in the objects of the invention, ,theprofile rnilling rnachine-al'so comprises means-for rendering the cam means inoperative and lockingxthe spindle housing in ofi'set relationlwith respect to the axis of the support plate whereby the profile milling machine isadapt ed. to very accurately and-precisely cut rounded or arcuate shapes. Such means includes a pair of links 66" and 67whieh are pivoted at one of their ends to the spindle housing 4s and ablock 68 at-tached'to the support plate 31, respectively, and at their otherends toeachi. other andf theend offlan operating link .69. The othenend'of honsing and millercutterare ofiset witlirespect to=the verticalariisof rotation of the supportplate willd'e tjerniinejthe radius throughwhich milling cutter" will bet-move 5 To-change th-is'ofi' center distance-itis-only necessary tonnanipulaite the-"headed adjusting screwto lengthen" or' shorten the effective" length of' the toggle l hinge and. in this. mannertliqprofile milling machine at eres sm m t wbrkr e s- -c u e same r su cw d obtained b u i izi a" segmental a 1 -v 'n'si e e al cam s lfis i i mc the Ie "ousingwitlr respect'tothe support plate' as the otated but it is preferred" thatthe adjustable ink'age" be. employed. when rounded and arcuate end surfaces are to.. be machinedi' dueto the inherentaecu siss he e O e qfie'rr y adva a e of? he pr fi m i 'nachine ,of the" presentrinventi on islthe'very high degree ffjaccuracythat is obtainable therewith. The adjustable toggle linkage allows round andarcuate shaped end faces tobe milledwith high precision as is set forth above. It willibenotedthatthe,segmentalcam is positioned about the internal surface of the upper housingsection a substantial distance radially outward-iof' the path of travel offthemillinggcutter whereby the size and length. of'the Y cam surface is muchlarger than-that ofthe pathth'rough Which t he milling cutter moves. 5 Since the segrnentalcja'm is quite'largethe cam followerroll'is adaptedito follow the operating ,link threadably. receives the, forward end I I of'ia headed adjustingscrew '70 whiciris threadably mounted inandextendsthrough one ofl'the spaced. blocks 65." The'above apparatus provides; in essence, a rigid but adjustable toggle linkage interconnecting the spindle housing and the support plate. During normal operation of the profile milling machine,.when the sameis adapted to mill a complexshapeaon the end face of. a rnetalworkpiece, the toggle. linkage would bedisconnected from thespindle housing and/or the support plate by removing one or more of the plurality of pins 7.1

which pivotally join and mountthe/various links 66 and '67, When the pins "71 .arerernoved the rigid interconnection between the spindle. housing and the support plate, is broken. whereby-thespindle housing can,

rnove longitudinally ina horizontal plane relative to the support plate as thesame is rotated in accordance with the shape of. the segmental oam. However, when it is des red to mill .a rounded or. arcuate end face on the end of a'metal. workpiece, the segmental camfand/or the cam follower 'roliare removed and the pins 71 are insertedtoprovide therigid connection between the supportplate andthe. spindiehousing. In this manner the means. is -no longer efiec tive to, slidably move the spindle housing, as thesuppmt-pIateis rotatedland the fill lrdle. housing will remain fixed. relative to' the supfthe workpiece.

As set forth above, bothloflthe jaws areadapted for thefsame in an accurate mannenevenwhenhighly corn plexjshapes are'being milled. "Also, the cam surface may begene'rated and'machinedl'with relative easeto' a high degreeof accuracy because ofthetlargesize thereof.

Furthenany small inaccuracies in the cam surface will to hold. a metalworkpiece on the workpiece supporting table 18 duringjm-illin'goperations, there areprovided a pair of..jaws.-.74 and 75 which are respectively mounted for rectilinear reciprocation on opposite sides of land'towardfand away fromfa center line" of Ithe-profiletrnillin'g machinelextendi-ngfrom the frontfto rear thereof." The jawsare substantiallyfiatplate-lilre'blocks and'such rectilineanreciprocation is accomplishedpby providing for eachof the jawsta pair ofils'pacedl parallel gibs 76 that are attachedfto thewor-k'piece supportingtable 'anddefine spaced ways. for slidably receiving and; guiding the sideedges of'thejaw:associateditherewith. 'Each offth'e jaws. 74 and. 75 .has a face 'platef77 attached .bytstuds and holtstothe inner. face thereofadjacentthe other of the jaws... The jaws 74 and 75.-an'd their respective face plates.aresolarranged. that anietal workpiece,jsuch as a ;bar, rod orvth'e like, maybe clamped with its center line onthecenter line ofthe machine and with the front 'end of .theworkpiecedisposed. over the opening 25 through V which. the milling cutter. 26! projects to engage the ,endl'of rectilinear reciprocation but' the jaw 74'is normally maintained in-relative fixed'relation with respect to the workpiece supporting table and the jaw 75 and the position thereof is adjusted only whenthe size of the workpieces changes. The jaw 75, however, is adapted for reciprocation duringnormal usage thereof to alternately clamp.

a workpiece against the other jaw 74 and to release a milled workpiece. for removal. i a

The means for adjustably moving the jaw 74 comprises I I I I I I 'a threaded rod-78 which isattachedto the n f port plate." rneurstance tram-11s axes oflhespiiidle 'tne awmr aud'is threadably received inia manipulating i adaptedto veryaccurateiy machine rounded orarcuate sition for receiving such a workpiece.

-7 fixture 79 mounted by a suitable plate 80 attached to the side wall portion of the upper housing section. The arrangement is such that when the manipulating fixture 79 is rotated by the machinist the clamping jaw will move inwardly or outwardly. It is contemplated that the manipulating fixture 79 will be knurled for ease of turning and will be imprinted with suitable indicia representing the correct position of the jaw 74 for any given size of metal workpiece to be machined. When a diiferent size workpiece is to be milled the machinist need only to manipulate the fixture 79 until the pointer is aligned with the indicium corresponding to the dimension of the workpiece and the jaw will be in the correct po As shown, a coil spring 82 is provided for biasing the jaw outwardly and a locking handle 83 (see Figure 2) is also provided for positively locking the jaw 74 in any adjusted position. As will be hereinafter more fully explained, the milling cutter and the jaw 74 are so positioned at the start of any milling operation that the milling cutter is tangentially disposed and aligned with the outer surface of the face plate 77 associated therewith and consequently the same relation also exists between the milling cutter and the side surface of. a workpiece clamped between the jaws.

For reciprocating the jaw 75 there is provided a vice operating fluid cylinder 84 that is mounted on a suitable mounting block 85 attached to the side wall of the upper housing section. The piston rod of the vice operating fluid cylinder is pivotally attached to a toggle'linkage 86 intermediate the ends thereof which extends between the mounting block'85 and the rear end of a threaded rod 87. The threaded rod is received within the mass of the jaw 75 and is adjustable with respect thereto upon manipulation of a pair of clamping nuts 88 that are received on the threaded rod and are exposed through an aperture 89 in the jaw 75. Thus, upon proper actuation of the operating vice cylinder 84 the effective length of the toggle linkage will be increased or decreased to cause the jaw 75 to move into or out of clamping relation with respect to a workpiece and the jaw 74-. A pair of. stops 90 are attached to the mounting block 85 for limiting outward retractive movement of the jaw 75.

Fluid is supplied to the vice operating cylinder'84 from a suitable source thereof, not shown, through a hand operated valve 91 mounted adjacent the forward end of the workpiece supporting table 18. The valve 91 is of conventional construction and is spring or otherwise biased so that the operating handle of the same must be depressed at all times when'fluid is supplied to the vice operating cylinderto move the jaw 75 into clamping relation or to clamp a workpiece. Therefore, one of the machinists hands must be on the handle of the valve 91 at all times during a milling operation whereby the same is positioned away from the milling cutter, Also, the electrical control equipment for energizing the electric motors. may include a push button which must be depressed during the entire milling operation. In this manner both of the machinists hands are safely positioned away from the milling cutter during milling operations. It is also contemplated that the control apparatus will include interlocking means whereby the milling operation cannot be carried out or completed until or unless the workpiece is firmly clamped in the vice. All of these features provide a machine which is inherently safe to operate and any injury to the machinist using the same is effectively precluded.

' As set forth in the objects of the invention, an improved gauge is incorporated for automatically positioning the end of a workpiece with respect to the path of travel of the milling cutter and such structure is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 7-9' of the drawing. As shown, a barrel type of gauge, generally designated by the reference numeral 93, is mounted on the workpiece supporting table in front of the jaws and the milling cutter in alignment with the center line of the machine. The

barrel gauge comprises an elongated and movable sliding stop 94 whose forward face forms an abutment stop orpositioning surface for the forward end face of a metal workpiece when this member is in its extended position. The sliding stop 94 has a depending pin 95 mounted on the underside and adjacent the forward end thereof which receives one end of a coil spring 96/ The coil spring 96 extends between the pin 95 and a similar pin received in a recess in the surface of the supporting table 18 and serves to bias. the sliding stop for movement in a direc-' tion away from the vice and the workpiece. The sliding stop 94 is guided for movement by a pair of spaced parallel gibs 97 that define ways for the reception of the side edges of the sliding stop. The coil spring 96biases the sliding stop in such a manner that the pin inthe forward end thereof is normally maintained in engagement with the forward face of the forwardmost housing 106.

Bolted to the top surface of the sliding stop adjacent the rear end thereof is 'a follower member 98 having a forwardly extending projection which is adapted to engage the stepped helical of spiraling end surface of a ratchet stop cylinder 99 upon forward movement of the sliding stop 94. The rachet stop cylinder 99 is generally cylindrical and has the rear edge formed in the shape of a helix or spiral which is machined to provide a series steps 100 about this end surface. Directly in front of the spiraling end surface of the rachet stop cylinder is a circular knurled portion 101 forming a gripping area for the machinists' hand when it is desired to rotate the rachet stop cylinder. Inscribed on the rachet stop cylinder directly in front of the knurled portion 101 are reference indicia 102 and spaced forwardly of the indicia is a circular peripheral groove 103. Adjacent the end of the rachet stop cylinder is a band of serrations 104.

The rachet stop cylinder 99 is mounted and carried on a shaft 105 whose protruding end portions are journaled for rotation in a pair of spaced generally U-shaped housings 106 which are bolted to the workpiece support:

ing table of the profile milling machine. It will be noted that the housings 106 nest with respect to the gibs 97 and the sliding stop 94 whereby a neat appearing assembly is provided. Attached to the forwardmost of the housings 106 on the top thereof is an overhanging rearwardly projecting pointer 107 having a recess therein for the reception of a spring pressed ball 1% that is adapted to engage the band of serrations on the forward end of the rachet stop cylinder.

It is contemplated that the individual indicium 102 will correspond to the overall radius through which the milling cutter will be swung'during a cutting operationthat is, correspond generally to the off center distance of the milling cutter and spindle housing from the axis of rotation of the support plate. Thus, if it is desired to swing the milling cutter through an arc whose radius is three-quarters of an inch the machinist would turn the rachet stop cylinder until the pointer is over the indicium three-quarters and when the sliding stop is 'moved so that the follower member engages the spiraling surface of the rachet stop cylinder the forward end of the sliding stop would be so positioned that a mini-mum amount of material would be cut from the workpiece when the milling cutter is moved through its path of travel. The relation between the steps on'the end face of the rachet stop cylinder and indicia is preferably such that only a small amount of material is taken from the center of the workpiece end face when the milling cutter moves in a round or arcuate path-such as, for exampleQone thirtysecond of an inch. When it is desired to position the workpiece the machinist places the same on the workpiece supporting table between the jaws of the vice and then pushes on the rear end of the sliding stop to move the same forwardly against the action of spring 96 until the follower member engages the stepped end surface of.the rachet cylinder. The workpiece is then manipulated so that its forward face abuts against the forward end of the extended sliding stop and at this time the ing sections, a circumferential bearing race disposed be tween said annular flanges, means securing said annular flanges and said bearing race together, a support plate received Within said housing sections, a plurality of ball .bearings disposed between said circumferential bearing race and the outer periphery of said support plate, means to rotate said support plate, a spindle housing slidably mounted on said support plate for sliding movement in the plane of rotation thereof, a spindle journaled within said spindle housing, said upper housing section having a top wall defining a workpiece supporting table, means to clamp a workpiece to said table, said spindle mounting a machining tool adapted to engage a workpiece held by said means to clamp on said workpiece supporting table, means to rotate said spindle, a generally circular cam secured to the internal surface of said upper housing section radially outwardly of said spindle housing, cam

' follower means, and means connecting said cam follower means with said spindle housing whereby said spindle housing is caused to move with respect to said support 7 plate when said support plate is rotated.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a disengageable toggle linkage, said toggle linkage adapted to interconnect said spindle housing and said support plate when said cam is removed, means to adjust the effective length of said toggle linkage whereby said spindle housing may be positioned a predetermined off center distance with respect to the axisof rotation of said support plate, and the arrangement being such that when said cam is removed and said'toggle linkage is .engaged said machining tool is moved in an arcuate path when said support plate is rotated,

3. A milling machine for machining the peripheral surface of a workpiece which comprises means to clamp a workpiece, rotatable support means, means to rotate said rotatable support means, a spindle housing slidably mounted on said rotatable support means inradially disposed relation with respect to said workpiece, a rotatable spindle journaled in said spindle housing and adapted to mount a machining tool for engagement with the peripheral surface of said workpiece held by said means to clamp, means to rotate said spindle, and means to slidably move said spindle housing on said rotatable support means in accordance with a predetermined pattern when said rotatable support means is rotated.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further characterized in that said means to slidably move said spindle housing comprises cam means, said cam means comprising a generally circular cam positioned a substantial 'distance radially out-ward of said spindle housing, said piece, rotatable support means, a spindle housing slidably mounted on said rotatable support means, a rotatable spindle journaled in said spindle housing and adapted to mount a machining tool for engagement with a workpiece held by said means to clamp, gauge means on said table for properly positioning a workpiece with respect to machining tool, said gauge means comprising a sliding stop adapted to abut against a workpiece, a ratchet cylinder, said ratchet cylinder having a spiralling stepped and surface, means for rotatably mounting said ratchet cylinder, and follower means connected with said sliding stop adapted to engage said spiralling stepped end surface of said ratchet cylinder.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further characterized in that said means to rotatably mount said gauge comprises a pair of spaced housings, said housings being mounted on a table, said ratchet cylinder having a circu-.

-12 lar band of .reference indicia intermediate the ends thereof, said ratchet cylinder having a circular band of serrations adjacent the other end surface thereof, ,a pointer attached to one of said housings and overlying said band of reference indicia, and a spring pressed ball in said pointer engaging said band of serrations.

. 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising means to slidably guide said sliding stop, said means to slidably guide comprising a pair of spaced gibs mounted on a table, means to bias said follower means out of engagement with said spiralling stepped end surface of said ratchet cylinder, said means to bias comprising a coil spring received in a recess in said table and extendng between said table and the underside of said sliding stop, and said meanstto rotatably mount comprising a pair of spaced housings secured to said table in nesting relation with said gibs and said sliding stop.

8. A barrel type gauge for use on the workpiece sup porting table of a milling machine or the like which comprises a sliding stop adapted to engage and properly position a workpiece, a ratchet cylinder, said ratchet cylinder having a spiralling stepped end face, means for rotatably mounting said ratchet cylinder, and follower means connected with said sliding stop adapted to engage said spiralling stepped end surface of said ratchet cylinder.

9. A machine for machining the peripheral surface of a workpiece which comprises means to clamp a workpiece, rotatable support means, a spindle housing slidably mounted on said rotatable. support means radially outwardly of said workpiece, a rotatable spindle journaled in said spindle housing and adapted to mount a machining tool, a toggle linkage, said toggle linkage interconnecting said spindle housing and said rotatable support means, and means to adjustably change the effective length of said toggle linkage to slidably move said spindle housing with respect to said rotatable support means to change the off center distance of the axis of said spindle housing with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotatable support means.

10. A milling machine for machining the peripheral surface of a workpiece which comprises means to clamp a workpiece, rotatable support means, a spindle housing slidably mounted on said rotatable support means outwardly of the center axis thereof, a rotatable spindle journaled in said spindle housing and adapted to mount a machining tool for engagement with a workpiece held by said means to clamp, means to slidably move said spindle housing on'said rotatable support means when said rotatable support means is rotated, means to disengage said means to slidably move said spindle housing when said rotatable. support means is rotated, and means selectively operative to adjustably lock said spindle housing in offset relation with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotatable support means when said means to slidably move said spindle housing when said means to slidably move said spindle housing when said rotatable support means is rotated is disengaged.

11. A machine for machining the peripheral surface of a workpiece which comprises means to clamp a workpiece, rotatable support means, a spindle housing slidably mounted on said rotatable support means, a rotat able spindle journaled in said spindle housing and adapted to mount a machining tool for'engagement with a workpiece held by said means to clamp, means to rotate said rotatable support means, control means for said means to rotate, said control means comprising switch means operated upon rotation of said rotatable support means, a housing, said rotatable support means being journaled in said housing, said switch means comprising at least one limit switch mounted from said housing, said limit switch having an operating arm, and deflecting means carried by said support means adapted to deflect said operating arm of said limit switch upon predetermined rotation of said rotatable support means.

12. A machine for machining-the peripheral surface to clamp, means to rotate said spindle about its own axis, means for efiecting relative rotational movement of said spindle housing and said means toclamp whereby said workpiece and said machining tool moves relative to each other to machine the peripheral surface of said workpiece,

a 5 cam surface.

' said means for efiecting relative rotational movement comprising cam means, said cam means having a cam surface corresponding to the peripheral surface desired on said workpiece, and cam follower means engaging said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,524,091 Zimmermann Oct. 3, 1950 2,826,963 'Rohlfs Mar. 18, 1958 

